Boons
From SuspireWiki
The world of vampires has a currency just like any other, but vampires are not generally that impressed with cold hard cash. They deal in something a bit more complicated, boons.
A boon is like a debt. You do someone a favor, and if they acknowledge that you helped them out, they now owe you a boon. Sounds pretty simple, but nothing in the world of darkness is ever simple when you take everything into account.
Also understand that a boon isn’t owed just when you take it upon yourself to declare it. If someone saves your existence by choice, and others see him do so, if you don’t acknowledge the boon, the court may destroy you. If a vampire becomes known as untrustworthy or an oath breaker, the harpies may allow others to ignore their debt to him later. (And it becomes very hard to trade in boons in any event.)
One thing to remember is that boons must be paid off because the social order demands it. If a Prince doesn’t enforce boons, then the people who owe him boons might not have to pay him off, and he isn’t going to tolerate that.
It’s prudent to note that when owing a boon to a person, it is assumed you will treat that person with respect if not friendliness until such a point that the boon is paid. It is possible to pay off a larger boon by participating in a series of smaller boons, however this is usually decided by the boon-holder (or in some domains, the harpies present).
For those who think they can simply ignore a boon, they’re in for a rude awakening. At the first level, they may be able to get away with it and suffer only a certain loss of public standing. However, at the second and third levels the punishment is more severe... if someone who constantly ignores his boons goes missing, few people are likely to care – there is no room for people who don’t pay their debts. Likewise, a boon-holder might be particularly displeased if someone they held a boon over ended up missing and might go to lengths to determine the cause.
Contents |
Paying Boons
Small Boons
- Teaching a first level discipline
- Using a low level influence or ally for the boon-holder
- An instance of political support, provided it does not injure the provider
- Arranging a meeting with someone of greater Status
- Providing a small amount of useful information
Medium Boons
- Teaching a second to third level discipline
- Using a high level of influence or ally for the boon-holder; or participating in an extended use of a low level influence
- Political support over a period of time equal to a month, or a shorter period that could be potentially damaging to the provider. [Note: It is usually considered bad form to rescind your support after the boon is paid, and in some cities this will only result in greater debt.]
- Access to a small amount of Clan or Covenant resources, if such can be provided by the debtor [Such as a one-time access to a clan forum]
- Providing a large amount of useful information.
Large Boon
- Teaching a fourth to fifth level discipline
- Expending an influence or ally to such a point that you lose influence in that area, or that particular ally
- Political support over a period of time against persons of status equal to or greater than the Seneschal, Herald or Prince.
- Saving the boon-holder’s life
- Killing on behalf of the boon-holder
Gaining Boons
Small Boons
- You provide the debtor with one of the services listed under repayment for small boons.
- As an apology for a small mishap.
Medium Boons
- You provide the debtor with one of the services listed under repayment for medium boons.
- As an apology for a large, damaging mishap.
- Assistance in covering a small Masquerade breach
- Allowing someone to feed or live within your Domain
Large Boons
- You provide the debtor with one of the services listed under repayment for large boons.
- Taking the side of the debtor in a political argument that was extremely damaging to your standing
- Assistance in covering up a large Masquerade breach
- Assistance in covering up a break of the 2nd or 3rd Traditions
- Saving the life of the debtor